Chance encounter with journos led to 'Page 3'

Tony Tharakan

The rather insipid scene of acouple of journalists getting into an auto-rickshawsparked off filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar's creativeinstincts at a time when he was grappling with theidea of making 'Page 3'. "I had this vague idea about doing something onthe party circuit, but was stumped about the point ofview to be used in the film," Bhandarkar told reporters here today.

The acclaimed director of 'Chandni Bar' and'Satta' was driving back from a party in Mumbai someyears ago when he saw some journalists haggling withan auto-rickshaw driver. "They had also just come from the party.Half-an-hour back, they were in the midst of filmstarsand immmediately afterwards, these journalists wereback in the real world of autos and buses," Bhandarkar recalled.

The incident struck the filmmaker strongly and hedecided to capture the lives of the rich and famousthrough the eyes of a journalist, played by actressKonkona Sensharma in the film. Bhandarkar's film - a cynical portrayal ofcelebrity party culture - achieved both critical andcommercial success when it was released early thisyear.

It also garnered an automatic place in the IndianPanorama section of the International Film Festival ofIndia here by virtue of its winning the National Awardfor Best Film this year. "The film was very much appreciated at the Pragueand Los Angeles film festivals and we intend to takeit to many such festivals abroad," Bhandarkar said.

First Indo-Italian film to roll in 2006

Tony Tharakan

The saga of an Indian urchinwho realises his dreams is set to become the first Indo-Italian project under the film co-productiontreaty signed by the two nations this year. The film, an adaptation of a book by Italianfillmaker Sergio Scapagnini, is to be directed by India's Goutam Ghose and will go on the floors in2006.

The Story of Lala - based symbolically on thelegend of Ulysses - is in the first stages of production and Ghose is working on the script," Scapagnini told PTI on the sidelines of the 36thInternational Film Festival of India here.

The 59-year-old filmmaker said he was pleased to bethe first beneficiary of the May 2005 co-productiontreaty between India and Italy. "We are currently location-hunting for the film,which is to be shot in India and at Naples in Italy,"Scapagnini said.

Renowned actor Omar Sharif, who also stars in thefilmmaker's project 'Fire At my Heart,' is expected tobe part of the new venture. "As for Indian stars, Ghose has worked with top-notch Bollywood stars in the past and I'm sure there would be several in the film. However, that's the director's call," Scapagnini said.

At the moment, the filmmaker is on the lookout fora talented Indian boy who would play the title role ofLala in the film. Apart from 'The Story of Lala,' no other project isin the pipeline for Scapagnini as of now. "The film is such a great challenge that I don'tdare put other initiatives in my mind," he said.

According to an Italian Embassy official, theco-production treaty seeks to remove any obsatcles tofilmmkaing and provided various incentives forIndo-Italian co-productions. "The interest in the Italian filmmaking industryhas to be seen to be believed. We brought around 1,300kg of books and material for the IFFI Film Bazaar andit's disappearing fast," Italian Embassy CulturalCentre Director Patrizia Raveggi told PTI.

Sergio Scapagnini maintains that Indian and Italianfilmmakers have been collaborating on projects evenbefore this year's treaty. "The first such film 'Vrindavan Film Studios' - afilm entirely shot in India - was made ten years agounder the direction of Italy's Lamberto Lambertini,"he said.

The film featured several Indian stars includingSonali Kulkarni and was premiered at the 1996 editionof the film festival. "Half the cast and crew had been from India," saysScapagnini, whose production house 'IndrapurCinematografica' had produced the movie.

The filmmaker went on to produce a documentary 'The Impermanence, a journey into the world of the DalaiLama', directed by Ghose, which had its world premiereat the Venice Film Festival last year.

Scapagnini has also distributed several Indianclassics in Europe, including those made by thelegendary Satyajit Ray, and also roped in Bengaliactor Soumitro Chatterji to speak at several Rayretrospectives abroad.

The filmmaker feels that Goa is a fabulous venuefor holding the International Film Festival of India. "The government should think of giving facilitiesfor film aficionados to come here so that it can also become the hub of cine lovers like the Venice FilmFestival," he said.

An Indophile, who believe it or not, is currentlyon his 62nd visit to India, Scapagnini says he lovesthe country and its people. "I make it a point to visit Indore whenever I come,as my closest Indian friends, whom I met 20 years ago,are based there," he said. Incidentally, the filmmaker has named hisproduction house 'Indrapur' after the ancient name ofthe city of Indore.

Parzania -- Filmmaker, actress stands by film

Tony Tharakan

Filmmaker stands by controversial film on Godhra riots
Despite the strong reactionevoked by his film based on the Godhra riots,filmmaker Rahul Dholakia has said he is ready toscreen 'Parzania' in Ahmedabad. "If we filmmakers do not express our thoughts, weare as guilty of the crime as those that committedit," he told reporters at the International FilmFestival of India here.

Dholakia, who hasn't managed to find a distributorfor the film, said he wanted more people to see thefilm and was ready to take it to schools anduniversities for private viewings. "I am ready to show the film even in Ahmedabad,"he said.

The world premiere of 'Parzania', depicting thetravails of a Parsi couple who lose their son to theGodhra riots, had been marred by a fracas on Saturdayafter some audience members alleged it was "biased andportrayed Hindus in a bad light."

The film, based on a true story, had been passedby the Censor Board with only a few minor audio cuts,Dholakia said. "I don't think a screening of my film will lead toviolence. It's not a pro-community film. It'spro-humanity," he said. "Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It's afilm bound to provoke discussions," he added.

However, the director blamed the media for playingup the reactions of a minor section of the audience. "We made the film with a great sense ofresponsibility as we didn't want to miss with it. Itis sad that the media forgot about all the audiencememebers who praised the film," Dholakia said.

Sarika bats for the controversial 'Parzania'
Standing by her controversialEnglish film 'Parzania,' actress Sarika has said sheagreed to act in the flick because of its strongscript. Based on a real-life incident during thepost-Godhra riots of 2002, filmmaker Rahul Dholakia's'Parzania' portrays the travails of a Parsi couple(Sarika and Naseeruddin Shah) trying to trace theirmissing 10-year-old son.

"The riots are a delicate issue and it is not easyto make a film on such a topic. I agreed to do itbecause the script had been written with maturity anda sense of responsibility," Sarika said yesterday. 'Parzania' also stars Emmy-award winning actor Corin Nemec, Raj Zutshi and Parzaan Dastur.

Famous for her roles as a child star in the 1970s,Sarika recently returned to face the camera after adecade-long hiatus. "I have signed five more films although I am not ina position to reveal more about them," the actress told PTI here.

After power-packed performances in 'Parzania' andRuchi Narain's 'Kal - Yesterday and Tomorrow', Sarikaseems to have many more filmmakers queuing up outsideher door.

Film on Godhra leads to fracas at IFFI

Italian maestro misses date with IFFI

Tony Tharakan

In yet another setback forthe International Film Festival of India, renownedItalian filmmaker and actress Lena Wertmuller wouldnot be making it to Goa this year. The 77-year-old director, who is being honouredhere with a retrospective, forgot to obtain a visa andhad to return to Rome after being stopped by officialsat Frankfurt airport.

A name to be reckoned with, Wertmuller's absencehas come as a great disappointment to all lovers ofworld cinema at IFFI 2005. "It's a great loss. She is an avant-gardedirector. We were waiting to receive her at theairport when we received the sad news," ItalianEmbassy Cultural Centre Director Patrizia Raveggi told PTI today.

In a telephonic message from Italy, Wertmullerexpressed her disappointment at not being able tovisit India and exhorted Italian representatives hereto "embrace all Indians and share her love" on her behalf.

The screenings of Wertmuller's films as part ofthe retropective will go on as scheduled, Raveggiadded. According to Italian filmmaker Sergio Scapagnini,it is really sad "this stupid world still relies on visas at a time when we are dreaming of a world without passports."
"Lena had been very enthusiastic about her trip toGoa," Scapagnini, who is here for the premiere of hisItalian film 'Fire at my Heart,' said.

Wertmuller's iconoclastic approach to cinema hadearned her a sizeable cult following in the mid-70s. Her 'The Seduction of Mimi,' a comic examinationof sexual role-playing and political manoeuvering, hadgarnered Wertmuller the best director award at the1972 Cannes Film Festival.
Five of the Italian maestro's films - 'A ComplexPlot', 'The End of the World', 'The Lizards', 'SevenBeauties' and 'Swept Away' are being screened as partof a retrospective here.

Read LENA WERTMULLER

Ruskin in movie theatre after 25-year hiatus

Tony Tharakan

Thanks to the InternationalFilm Festival of India, writer Ruskin Bond came out ofhibernation to watch his first film in a movie theatreafter 25 years. Incidentally, his choice - 'The Blue Umbrella' -which premiered here yesterday was director Vishal Bharadwaj's screen adaptation of a short story writtenby Bond himself.

"It's after 25 years that I found myself inside amovie theatre. Although an avid film buff, I live inMussoorie where there are unfortunately no theatresnow," the 71-year-old author said today. 'The Blue Umbrella,' slated for a May 2006release, is set in Himachal Pradesh and revolvesaround an eleven-year-old girl's quest for a lostumbrella believed to have magical powers.

"The film is based on a story I wrote 20 yearsago. I knew some children there and wove this fablearound them," he said. "The umbrella is symbolic of what people want inlife. It's about how human generosity ultimatelyovercomes greed," Bond added.

However, this is not his first tryst withBollywood. Back in 1980, his novel 'A Flight ofPigeons' became the basis for Shyam Benegal'sacclaimed film 'Junoon.' But Bond may not have to wait too long for anotherrendezvous with the desi box-office.

"Vishal has evinced interest in making anotherfilm based on one of my horror stories. But right nowhe's busy with his film on Othello," the author told PTI. The only point of contention seems to be whetherBond's stories are scary enough in the 21st century.

"It's funny how children come up to me and saythey don't find my horror stories scary enoughcompared to the stuff they see today," the authorsaid. Although Bond hasn't been able to catch up onother films at the film festival, he's happy that IFFIis being held here.

"This would give me an excuse to come to Goaagain," he said. Born in Himachal Pradesh in 1934, Bond has writtenover a hundred short stories, essays and novels. His first novel 'The Room On The Roof,' writtenwhen he was seventeen, garnered the John LlewellynRhys Memorial prize in 1957. The acclaimed author alsowon the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992.

Film on Godhra leads to fracas at IFFI

Tony Tharakan

The world premiere of acontroversial film based on the Godhra riots, at theInternational Film Festival of India here, led to afracas inside the auditorium.

Filmstars Sarika, Om Puri could only stand andwatch as certain members of the 300-strong audienceraised slogans against director Rahul Dholakiafollowing the screening of his English film 'Parzania'. The persons alleged that the film was biased and portrayed "only the Hindu community in a bad lightholding them responsible for the Godhra riots."

"Has Dawood funded this film?" was one audiencemember's query, who called the director a"pseudo-secularist." Defending his movie, the director said thatdespite being a Hindu himself, he had merely narratedthe story of a family and "what actually happened" inthe aftermath of the Godhra carnage.

"Were I to make a movie on 9/11, I would showMuslim fundamentalists in it," Dholakia said.

Coming to the director's rescue, Om Puri who waspresent at the screening as a guest, said that peoplewere also against the movie 'Tamas' when that filmbased on Partition was released. "The difference between 'Tamas' and this movie isthat the state participated in the riots. The stateshould not be partial. That is what made it horrid.This is the reason why the BJP lost the elections," hesaid.

Urging people to keep their cool, Puri said thatalthough he respected the feelings elicited by themovie, people should not react to a movie in this manner. "You can write about it if you want and shareyour viewpoint," he said.

Speaking to reporters outside the hall, Sarika said the reaction was on expected lines. "This did not come as a surprise. We wereexpecting this reaction from some people even whilemaking the movie. However, I stand by the film," she said.

Inspired by the true story of a family's lossduring the infamous Godhra riots of 1992, the filmstars Sarika and Naseeruddin as a Parsi couple wholoses their ten-year-son Parzan to the riots. "I am not trying to make a popcorn movie herewith the theme of national integration. I am trying oshow things as they really happened. The son of theman who inspired this movie is still missing,"Dholakia said adding that he would like to premierethe movie in Ahmedabad.

The director also said that his film had got aCensor Board certificate without any problems, barringa few minor audio cuts. When asked whether the movie would reopen healingwounds, Dholakia compared the Godhra riots togangrene.

"If you ignore gangrene in your foot, you mighthave to finally amputate it," he said. According to Dholakia, the film costing Rs threecrores was shot in the span of 45 days using live syncsound, although the scripting and research took oneand a half years.

"We were not sure whether we will be able torelease the film in India, that is why I made it inEnglish. The entire riot-sequence was shot withhand-held cameras. We also used a lot of footage fromreal life," Dholakia said. (Nov 26)

Links:
Pusan International Film Festival, the largest and most prestigious film festival in Asia, has invited 'Parzania', a film by Rahul Dholakia, to have its world premier. (More)

I’m not making a commercial popcorn film where Hindus kill Muslims who kill them backbut in the end both come out with national integration flags.’ (More)

Journalists stage walkout at IFFI press meet

From today, u can read reports on IFFI 2005 from Panaji, Goa. My friend and collegue Tony Tharakan is there in Panaji reporting for Press Trust of India.

Tony Tharakan

Panaji, Nov 24 (PTI) Hours before the curtain rises on the 36th International Film Festival of India, a press conference called to discuss media arrangements for the inaugural ceremony ended on asour note with several television and photojournalists staging a walkout.
Tempers ran high after organisers announced that television crews would not be allowed to carry cameras inside the high security INOX multiplex where the inaugural ceremony is scheduled to be held later today.
Refusing to heed Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) Director Afzal Amanullah's pleas to maintainorder, irate scribes decided to boycott the press conference and staged a walkout.
According to an I&B ministry official, only the official television sponsor would be showing the livetelecast of the ceremony whereas other channels would have access to live and deferred live footage from outside the venue.
However, broadcast journalists were not pleased with the organisers' decision.
"We have been covering the film festival for years. Even when it was previously held in Delhi, wewere allowed to carry the cameras inside," a miffed TV journalist said.
"They expect us to go and keep our equipment somewhere and not even take responsibility for it. Weare not pirates. This is really unfair," he added.
The media walkout at the press meet is not expected to affect the IFFI inaugural ceremony as thejournalists have said they would be not be boycotting the function.
The inaugural ceremony today would be preceded by a carnival, which would include floats, culturalpageantry and other festivities.
Yesteryear actor Dev Anand will be the Chief Guest whereas South Indian cinestar Chiranjeevi will be the Guest of Honour at the function.
Union Minister of Culture and Urban Development Jaipal Reddy would be present at the opening ceremony with film actresses Bipasha Basu and Tara sharing the honour of being the 'Thali Girl' for the function.
The ten-day film festival would kick off with the screening of Brazilian film 'Olga'.